The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-22
THEKNlCKERBOCKERCLUB
AND ITS FAMOUS PREDECESSOR,
THE NEW YORK CLUB.
Something About "the Finest Gentle.
man In America" Mr.. Henry
Ward, Cousin Of Sam.
loopursrospusos OF TEE irruAL.


NEW York, May 20.-"The old
New York club-there isn't club
iu New York that can compare with
| it." The speaker was an old bache-
lor who had been q member of the
New York club when Henry Ward,
"the finest gentleman in America, !"
as they called him, was its president.
Those to whom he spoke-elderly
men like himself-aRreed with him,
and for time "reminiscences OF the
old club we're exchanged, and it
seemed from their remarks as though
club life had lost the breeziness, dash
and elasticity Of former years. Ger
tainly no club in this city of today
can boast of the social influence OF
the old New York. Its members
we're the autocrats OF society. For
when Henry Ward became its presi-
dent he gathered around him the So
ciety leaders of that day-the Cut
tiugs, the. Strongs, Goold Redmond,
Peleg Hall, AlonEo Monson, G. Girls
void Gray, Butler Duncan, James
v. Parker, William Schermerhorn
and Alexander Hamilton.
Henry Ward was the best qualified
man in New York for his position as
president of the New York club. He
was a cousin of Julia Ward Howe
and of the late Sam Ward. The
formers intellectual attachments and
the latter's distinguished courtesy
we're united in him. He was man
Of much education and refined tastes (;
ready and bright in conversation and
suave of manner. His club was his
life. His energies were constantly
and entirely devoted to its welfare.
To make it a success and keep 1T a
success was his aim. and all his bust
ness and domestic arrangements were
made with a view to his club duties
1t was his boast that he saw the last
man home from the clubhouse every
night. He rose late in the morning,
usually getting down to his banking
house at 1890 o'clock. leaving bust
ness for the club at 3 or 4 o'clock in
the afternoon and staying there until
dinner time. He dined at home and
spent the evening either there or In
society or at the opera, went to the
club at midnight and remained till 3
o'clock in the morning. His popu-
larity was acknowledgements tabu-
lous.
During part of his presidency the
club occupied the old Haieht man
sion, southeast corner OF Fifth av-
enue and Fifteenth street. No club
house of today so combines luxury
kwith home like comfort. On the
ground floor a large space with
| fountain in its center formed sum
mer garden during the heated term
aud a conservatory in winter. On one
side of this space was the dining
room, on the other the billiard room.
Legendary mystery surrounds the
| fountain. Tradition has handed
down the story that when members
of the club had dined so heavily as
to disturb their center OF gravity,
they we're scientifically ducked in
said fountain and sent on their way
home with their center OF gravity
somewhat nearer its normal position.
Still it must be borne in mind that
this may be purely legendary, and
that the fountain may have only
served the purpose of gratifying the
tastes of those members who delight
ed in the beauties Of nature and loved
to hear the little brook a-gurgling'
when they weren't occupied in play
ing cards.
From these fine quarters the club
moved to Union Square. When
Henry Wards health declined and
he was unable to give as much atten
ton to the club and devote himself
80 assiduously to its interests as be-
fore, the club lost in popularity, and
finally dissolved in 1869. Solitary
an 4 lonely among the business houses
which have gone up on Bond street,
stands Henry Wards house. A kind
ly hand has kept in their places all
| the articles of furniture and orna-
ments Just as they were when he died.
Even the stuffed canaries-former
pets-are perched on their stands.
Should an old time friend, who, hav-
ing lived in distant parts, had not
heard of Henry Wards death, return
and enter the house everything would
seem so natural that he would expect
to see coming toward him the tall
yet somewhat portly form of its old
host, and to hear his genial greeting.
The old New York club dissolved
doubtless because its members had
become somewhat miscellaneous and
the surroundings were, therefore,
distasteful to the older members.
Twenty-one Of the latter formed
themselves in 1871 into board OF
governors, with Alexander Hamilton
as president, and organized the
Knickerbocker club. Mr.. Hamilton
has been the president Of the club
since its formation.
The Kniokerbocker is hardly as
representative a club as the Union,
because in the latter there is a larger
number Of distinguished men
drawn from various ranks. 1t is,
| however, the swell club ofNew York,
in the sense that it is the most ex-
! elusive. One has to have high stand
ing in New York society to become a
member of it, Much fun has been
passed at it. The dude club" is one
Of its names, and it has also been said
that its members sit in the bow
windows on the Fifth avenue side
Of the club house and drink
tea, and they have been pleasantly
referred TO as stuffed dudes. But,
after all, the fact remains that it is
exclusive from q society point of
view. That may not be a correct
point of view flor the gates Of New
York society, like the gates of the
fortresses in Philip OF Macedon S
time, open before any donkey which
bears a bag of goldl, but as society"
has a well defined and recognized
existence, aud the Kuickerbocker
draws its membership from sociesy
only, its claim to exclusiveness
would seem to be established. The
limit OF its membership is 30O-that
Of the Union, 1000.
The clubs success was immediate,
a circumstance due in A great meas